Double action catch



Oct 1955 E. s. IRELAN 2,719,648

DOUBLE ACTION CATCH Filed Oct. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q'Wzga Oct. 4, 1955 s |RELAN DOUBLE ACTION CATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 00 9, 1951 V z/64x70 Oct. 4, 1955 E. s. IRELAN 3 DOUBLE ACTION CATCH Filed 001;. 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 DOUBLE ACTION CATCH Ellison S. Irelan, Elgin, Ill., assignor to Illinois Watch Case Co., a corporationof Illinois Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,429

6 Claims. (Cl. 220 55 This invention relates to a double latch, especially of a type where two hinged members pivot around the same surface and it is desired to unlatch the outer one without unlatching the inner one. More particularly, the invention relates to a double latch for use on a cosmetics compact where it is desired to open one partof the cosmetics compact without necessarily opening another part, but where the other part may be opened from the same thumb catch.

One feature of this invention is that it provides more than one compartment accessible selectively by operating a single thumb catch; another feature of the invention is that it provides an apparatus in which two hinged members may be selectively opened by means of a thumb catch wherein the opening of the hinged members is dependent upon the degree of movement of the thumb catch; a further feature of this invention is to provide a cosmetics compact having a storage compartment controlled by the same thumb catch which controls opening of the compact body sections; another feature is to provide a thumb catch biased by an unretained spring.

Other features and advantages of this'invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetics compact assuming the novel design form of a stylized bird and.

showing a lipstick container in which the head of the bird serves as a handle; 1

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating the position of the thumb catch which controls the'opening of both the body sections of the compact and storage compartment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a compact in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines M of Figs. 2 and 3 showing the double catch mechanism of this invention;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a compact embodying this invention showing a double catch;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the hinged members in i open position exposing the double latch panel to View;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the double latch panel;

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 6, except that the hinged member is in closed position; i I

Fig. 9 is a broken sectional view illustrating .the operation of one of the catch holders and catches;

Fig. 10 is a broken sectional view of the operation of the outer hinged member just after it has been released; and

Fig. .11 is a broken sectional view of the inner hinged member during the opening thereof.

Most cosmetics cases available on the market consist of two relatively flat members, usually substantially circular or rectangular, which are hinged and latched together generally against the bias of a spring. When a thumb catch is pressed the two halves of the case or compact then spring open to reveal a mirror and a powder compartment. In some cases the powder compartment Referring particularly to Fig. 6, 23 has a slide panel 33 as a part thereof. A pin 34 Z,7l9,648 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 is accessible only after a partition or powder door is opened. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 not only is a lipstick compartment associated with the case but also a small additional storage compartment suitable for carrying a few pills or the like. In the illustrated compartment, the same thumb catch which controls the opening of the main body sections of the compact or case is used to control the opening of the pill compartment lid.

The stylized bird illustrated in Fig. 1 has a thin top section 20 which can mate with a to which a head 22 is slidably attached, the head 22 serving as a part of the holder for a lipstick container. At the back end of the bird, a lid 23 of a pill compartment is visible, the body section 20 and lid 23 being controlled by a thumb catch 24.

Referring to Fig. 3, the body sections 20 and 21 are seen to be hinged together by a pair of hinges 25. When the case is opened a mirror 26 comes into view. A platform 27 in the thick body section 21 has a hinged powder door or movable partition 28 which is maintained closed by a slide catch 29. A powder compartment may be exposed to view by sliding the catch 29 away from the partition 28 thereby allowing the partition 28 to open. The body section 20 is biased into open position by a spring 30 (Fig. 3).

The platform 27 has a folded-over or depending section 27a which provides a partition separating the pill compartment from the remainder of the body of the case. The lid 23 has a hinge 31 holding it to the platform 27. the underside of the lid attached to the lid 23 is received in a slot 35 in the panel 33 to allow a-short back-and-forth movement of the panel. A reinforcement strip 36 is connected to the underside g, of the lid 23 and extends around three sides near the perimeter thereof. A gap between the strip36 and the lid 23 allows one section of the panel 33 to pass there through and this'gap serves not only to'ret'ain the panel 33in position, but also to guide it in its back and forth movement. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the thumb catch 2,4 is merely one portion of the panel 33.

An aperture 37 in the lid 23 has a portion 38 of the panel 33 extending upward therethrough, the portion 38 having its end bent over to form a catch or hook for retaining the body section 20 in closed position. The panel 33 has two portions 39 hook means for retaining the lid 23 in closed position.

A spring 40 (Fig. 6) biases sition where the thumb catch 24 extends outward to the limit .of travel of the panel 33. Thus, when the thumb catch 24 is depressed and then released the spring 40 returns it to the position in which the catches 38 and 39 said reinforcing strip retain the ends of the spring 40" in position, as by soldering.

Without having to be held The' spring .40 exerts pressure on the panel 33 through a tab 40d (Figs. 6 and 7). The two parts of the catch 39 serve further to maintain the spring 40 in position.

With' the construction shown the spring 40 may be a straight piece of spring wire cut to length. One end may be placed .under one of the catches 3'9 and run into engagement with one of the corners formed by the reinforcing strip 36. The other end may be similarly handled with respect to the other of the catches 39 and the other cornerformedby the reinforcing strip 36. The middle portion 40m 7 r The catches 38 and 39 engage separate catch holders 42 and 43 when the case is closed. The catch holder 42 thick body section 21' which constitute a double the panel 33 toward a pohas ends which toe inward.

of the spring 40 may then run over the tab;

consists of a hook or folded-over portion of the body section 20 as best shown in Fig. 3. The hook 42 maybe either a folded-over portion of the body section 20 or it may be added by brazing or welding after the body section 20 has been formed, The catch holders 43 are merely apertures in the body section 21 adapted to engage and retain the hooks or catches 39.

The body section 21 has a section 45 which is curved outwardly slightly. With this construction when the catches 39 engage this curved outward section and force is applied to close the lid 23 the catches 39 force the panel 33 inward from the body section 21 against the bias of the spring 40. When the catch 39 reaches the catchholders 43 the spring 40 forces the catches 39'into the holders 43 thereby retaining the lid 23 in closed position.

Similarly, the catch 38 has a surface 33a (Fig. 7) which is angled slightly with respect to the direction of motion of the catch holder 42 so that the catch holder 42 engages the catch 38 and forces the panel 33 inward against the bias of the spring 40. When the holder 42 has been hooked by the catch 38 the spring 40 forces the panel 33 outward whereby the catch 38 retains the holder 42 and maintains the case completely closed.

In order to open the case to reveal the mirror it is merely necessary for the user to exert a slight pressure on the thumb catch 24. The catches 38 and 39 are so disposed that only the catch 38 releases first as the thumb catch 24 is depressed. Further displacement of the panel 33 results in release of the catches 39 thereby opening the lid 23 to expose the pill compartment. Thus, it may be seen that the pill compartment need not be opened except on occasions when access thereto is desired.

For further details of the construction of the compact disclosed in this application reference may be had to my copending applications Serial Nos. 250,427 and 250,428 now Patent No. 2,688,814, copending Vogelman application Serial No. 250,403 and copending Fritz application Serial No. 250,415, all filed October 9, 1951.

While the invention has been described with reference to a cosmetics compact it may be seen that the thumb catch control means of this invention may be readily used in any application where two members are hinged to the same surface. Many other modifications are possible and are obvious in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, it is not the intention to have the invention limited in any Way other than as necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A double latch for a container having a pair of hinged members comprising: a container; a first hinged member; a panel slidably mounted on said first hinged member; a first catch on said panel; a member to which said first hinged member is hinged; a catch holder in said member for engaging said first catch; a second hinged member, said second hinged member overlying said first hinged member when in closed position; a second catch on said panel and extending through said first hinged member; a catch holder on said second hinged member for engaging said second catch; a thumb member forming an integral part of said panel for tripping said first and second catches sequentially; and a spring for biasing said panel whereby said catches are retained in said catch holders.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the catch holders cooperate with the catches whereby when the said thumb catch is moved a certain distance one of the catches releases and when the said thumb catch is moved an additional distance the other of said catches releases.

3. A double latch for a pair of hinged members of the character described comprising: a first hinged member and a second hinged member, said second hinged 4 1 member overlying said first hinged member when in closed position; a surface against which both of said hinged members close; a panel slidably connected to said first hinged member; a thumb member integral with said panel and extending beyond said first hinged member, said thumb member serving to control motion of said panel; a spring for biasing said panel in a direction beyond said first hinged member; a first hook on said panel; an opening in said surface for latching said first hook; a second hook on said panel, said second hook extending through said first hinged member; and means on said second hinged member for latching onto said second hook, said latching means being disposed for the sequential release of said hooks when said panel is moved by pressure applied to said thumb catch.

4. A double latch for a container having a pair of hinged members of the character described comprising: first and second hinged members; a surface against which both'of said hinged members close; a reinforcing strip around the edge of said first hinged member, said reinforcing strip defining a pair of corners disposed opposite the hinged edge of said hinged member; a panel slidably connected to said first hinged member, said panel having a thumb press portion extending between said reinforcing strip and said first hinged member, said panel also having an offset portion extending on either side of said thumb press portion; catch means on said panel including a portion for engaging said second hinged member and another portion for engaging said container, retaining said hinged members in closed position; a tab on said panel for positioning a biasing spring; and a spring for biasing said panel, said spring having its ends in engagement with the corners defined by said reinforcing strip and extending between the said offset portions and the thumb press portion of said panel to said tab.

5. A latch for a hinged member of the character described comprising: a base; a hinged member mounted on said base;'a panel slidably attached to said hinged member; catch means on said panel for engaging said base and retaining said hinged member in closed position; a reinforcing strip around a portion of the periphery of said hinged member, said reinforcing strip defining an aperture through which a portion of said panel extends, said reinforcing strip also defining a corner on either side of said panel; a pair of offset side tabs on said panel extending beyond said reinforcing strip; a spring positioning tab centrally disposed on said panel; and a biasing spring for said panel, the ends of said spring being in engagement with the corners defined by said reinforcing strip and the center portion of said spring extending between the said otfset side tabs and around said spring positioning tab.

6. In a container having a first and a second hinged member, said second hinged member overlying said first hinged member when in closed position, a double latch of the character described, comprising: a panel slidably mounted on said first hinged member; a first catch on said panel; means on said second hinged member for engaging said first catch; a second catch on said panel; means on said container for engaging said second catch; and a thumb member on said panel for tripping said first and second catches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 309,813 Bothwell Dec. 23, 1884 1,521,572 Hammer et a1 Dec. 30, 1924 1,709,182 McKnight et al. Apr. 16, 1929 2,035,832 Parkin Mar. 31, 1936 2,150,536 Ziehm Mar. 14, 1939' 2,224,949 Buckley Dec. 17, 1940 

